We noticed that you're using an unsupported browser. The TripAdvisor website may not display properly.
We support the following browsers:
Windows: Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox. Mac: Safari.
All 245 Cairns Restaurants »

Kani's Restaurant

59 The Esplanade, Cairns, Queensland 4870, Australia
(07) 4051 1550
Got a photo?
Add it.
Ranked #79 of 245 restaurants in Cairns
4.0 of 5 stars 49 Reviews
Price range: INR56 - INR56
Cuisines: Seafood, Steakhouse
Good for: Child-friendly, Romantic, Groups, Business, Local cuisine, Special Occasion Dining, Entertaining clients
Dining options: Breakfast/Brunch, Lunch Spot, Dinner, Reservations, After-hours, Dessert
Restaurant details
Good for: Child-friendly, Romantic, Groups, Business, Local cuisine, Special Occasion Dining, Entertaining clients
Dining options: Breakfast/Brunch, Lunch Spot, Dinner, Reservations, After-hours, Dessert
Update restaurant details
Write a Review

49 reviews from our community

65% Recommend
    22
    11
    8
    6
    2
Rating summary
    Food
    Service
    Value
    Atmosphere
Date Rating
1 review
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 27 May 2012 NEW

Kani's is a must in Cairns. With superb food and service right on The Esplanade you can't go wrong. Its the spot for intimate dining and special events with glorious views from the Esplanade balcony. For seafood you are spoilt and the meat lovers too. Try one off the seafood platters, mud crab or steaks and you will be back.... More

Was this review helpful? Yes
Perth, Western Australia, Australia
1 review
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 23 May 2012 NEW

I went there a couple of years ago where I had a brunch & then a dinner a couple of days later.. Absouloutley fantastic food & service. Paul (Manager)/staff could not do enough for us. Keep up the great work. If ever I get back to Cairns (which I hope I do soon) this would be my first stop for... More

Was this review helpful? Yes
Cairns, Australia
Contributor
13 reviews 13 reviews
Reviews in 7 cities Reviews in 7 cities
8 helpful votes 8 helpful votes
2 of 5 stars Reviewed 13 May 2012
1
person found this review helpful

We visited this restaurant with our children. Ordered a Pizza from the menu and it was covered in Chilli which had to be sent back - there was no mention of chilli in the menu's description. The replacement was nothing special at all. I had a Lobster bisque which was bitter and unpleasant. For mains I had a Lobster Mornay... More

Was this review helpful? Yes
Fremont, California
Contributor
20 reviews 20 reviews
Reviews in 8 cities Reviews in 8 cities
5 helpful votes 5 helpful votes
3 of 5 stars Reviewed 20 April 2012
1
person found this review helpful

We ordered pizza Margerita. Not the real one, but it was just ok . More

Was this review helpful? Yes
See 3 more reviews by elzand5 for Cairns
Sydney
Senior Reviewer
7 reviews 7 reviews
Reviews in 2 cities Reviews in 2 cities
5 helpful votes 5 helpful votes
2 of 5 stars Reviewed 5 April 2012
1
person found this review helpful

Lunch; mistook this to be a seafood restaurant. My wife had coffee and lobster tail ("dry and tasteless"), I had a fisherman's basket (way overcooked - recognised the calamari by shape only the rest had merged with the batter) and the banana smoothie... I'll dwell on the smoothie because in North Queensland the locals grow up with bananas and mangoes... More

Was this review helpful? Yes
See 4 more reviews by Lokim for Cairns
Cairns, Australia
1 review
1 helpful vote 1 helpful vote
1 of 5 stars Reviewed 13 February 2012
1
person found this review helpful

No atmosphere. Waited 15 mins for anyone to talk to us after being seated. Ordered the $85 hot seafood platter and were informed that the kitchen was out of morten bay bugs. Would extra prawns be an acceptable alternative? No, as we eat them daily at work. Could we please have extra crab instead? She said she would ask. Platter... More

Was this review helpful? Yes
Melbourne, Australia
Reviewer
5 reviews 5 reviews
Reviews in 3 cities Reviews in 3 cities
1 helpful vote 1 helpful vote
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 13 January 2012

How good was this restaurant! Is still want to go back there once more! Food was just amazing and staff... just outstanding! My wife and I just had a very bad dinning experience the night before, and, without much hope, seeing mostly asian crowd in this restaurant. Another bloody tourist trap, that's what we thought! But the menu was impressive,... More

Was this review helpful? Yes
See 2 more reviews by tim c for Cairns
Cairns, Australia
Top Contributor
61 reviews 61 reviews
Reviews in 13 cities Reviews in 13 cities
22 helpful votes 22 helpful votes
3 of 5 stars Reviewed 28 December 2011

Located on the busy Cairns Esplanade with is abundance of predominantly Asian tourists, this restaurant indeed seems to favour Asian patronage. We dined here twice in one week and on both occasions preferential treatment was given to Asian looking customers. For instance, they were waited on first even though we arrived some 10 minutes earlier. Wait staff also enquired about... More

Was this review helpful? Yes
See 13 more reviews by Atlanticmermaid for Cairns
Cairns, Australia
Senior Reviewer
7 reviews 7 reviews
Reviews in 4 cities Reviews in 4 cities
3 helpful votes 3 helpful votes
2 of 5 stars Reviewed 28 December 2011

We went with friends to have the 2 course lunch for $ 15.00. We ordered Fish and Ships and Steak Sandwich. My Fish was dry so the Salad. Not enough dressing.The Steak had a funny smell. We returned it. The dessert was very delicious. When we got up to pay, I got a shock how filthy the Register and the... More

Was this review helpful? Yes
New South Wales, Australia
Senior Reviewer
7 reviews 7 reviews
1 helpful vote 1 helpful vote
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 12 December 2011

The food was varied and wonderful. We ate at this fantastic restaurant 3 nights in a row because there was no establishment that could compete with the quality of food and the brilliant service. More

Was this review helpful? Yes
See 6 more reviews by Cheryl F for Cairns

Travellers who viewed Kani's Restaurant also viewed

Raw Prawn Seafood Restaurant
4 of 5 stars 132 Reviews
Cairns, Cairns Region
Tamarind
4.5 of 5 stars 79 Reviews
Cairns, Cairns Region
 
Ochre Restaurant
4 of 5 stars 89 Reviews
Cairns, Cairns Region
Bushfire Flame Grill
4.5 of 5 stars 96 Reviews
Cairns, Cairns Region
 

Been to Kani's Restaurant? Share your experiences!

Write a Review Add Photos Add Videos

Owners: What's your side of the story?

If you own or manage Kani's Restaurant, register now for free tools to enhance your listing, attract new reviews, and respond to reviewers.

Manage your listing
See all sites
Cruise Critic

The ultimate cruise resource: cruise reviews, deals, news and advice.

SeatGuru

The world's most comprehensive source for airline seats, airline info, & in-flight amenities.

Family Vacation Critic

The best family holidays start here.

Get the #1 travel app FREE>>
Take TripAdvisor with you

Find 50 million reviews & opinions of hotels, things to do, restaurants and more

GET IT
Named "#1 Travel App" by Frommer's